Reversing roll-over toy



Feb. 13, 1940. R J LQHR ET AL 2,189,759

REVERSING ROLL-OVER TOY Filed June 3, 1939 2 -S eet 1 Fig. 4 6..

INVENTOR RAYMOND J. LOHR RICHAR D NELSON CARVER K ATTORNEY Feb. 13, 1940.

R. J. LOHR ET AL 2,189,759

REVERSING ROLL-OVER TOY Filed June 3, 1939 N CARVER m ATTORNEY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 13, 1940 UNITED STATES.

2,189,75 4 REVERSING ROLL-OVEETOY Raymond J. Lohr'and RichardsNelsonCarver, Erie, .Pa., assignorsto LouisMarx &..Cmpany, Inc., New York,- N. Y., a corporation of New York Application :June 3,- 1939, seriarno. 277,222 18Claims. (01.46% '104 Y This invention relates to toys, and'more particularlyto a roll-over toywhich rolls backand forth; or in two directions.

I The. primary object of our invention is to generally'improve' toys and more particularly toys designed to roll over. A more specific object is to provide a roll-over toy which rolls in'two,

opposite directions. A most desirable formof toy'bodyto -use-in a roll-over toyis one simu- -latingan animal,- and in such case the realism of the operation of the toy is greatly enhanced when thetoy rolls in both directions.

Still another object of the invention is to so arrange the-toy that it simulatedly runs forward 1 a short distance between rolls; Forthis-purposethe bottom of the toy is preferably provided with running wheels, and these may be continuously rotated by the motor. To make the toy effective; either for this running operation or to simulate an animal. the rolling-mechanism is preferably so arranged as to roll the toy from an upright position to an upright'position, and'for thispurposethe reaction member, which in'the case of 'an animal toy preferably simulates a-tail, is arranged to'rotate one or morewhole revolutions, plus approximately one-half or two-thirds of'a revolution in each direction. Still another, and more detailed object of the invention is-to soarrange the" mechanism that the reaction 39: member rests lightly or gravitationally on the floorduring the running operation, so'thatthere is'no-excessive friction against movement of the toy, and no tendency to raise thewheels' from the floor when the toy should be running forward':

To'the accomplishment of the foregoing and other *objects'which'will hereinafter appear; our

inventionconsists in the roll-overtoy elementsand their-relationoneto the other; as hereinafterare more particularly described in the specification'and sought to be defined in the claims; The specification is accompanied by drawinga in which:

Fig. l'isa side elevation of a preferred form of toy embodying features of my invention, a part of-the-toy body being cutaway to expose the' motor; 7 Fig. 2isa plan View of the motor; Fig. 3 is an elevation of the opposite side =ofcth motoryand.

Figs..4a,.4b' andxlc. are aschematic plan View explanatory of the operation of the toy.

Referring-to the drawings the toy comprises astoygbody-zfl:having azreactionmember M. In

55 theiipresentncase: the: toy; simulates annanimal;

and more specifically a kitten, and. the reaction member i4 simulatessa=tail; The reactionmember issecured to or maybe formed integrally with ashaft it which projects from the rear end. of the" toy. The reaction member I4 is so dimensioned and mounted on shaft lfi that it'clears the-toy body during rotation of theshaft, but doesnot clear-the floor.

The shaft lfi is arranged to be intermittently rotated'in opposite direction by means of a motor 19 carried within the toy body. In thepresent 'case the motor is a spring amotorrgenerally designated 1 83 i The-motor comprises a main stem or winol-v ing stem- 2il' which ispreferably squared to receive a conventional winding key which may beinsertedthrougha small hole in theside of the toy body: The spring is 'a conventional ribbon'type spring'22', the outer end 24 of which is secured tothe frame of themotor, while the inner end is'connected to asuitable bushing on :the windi'ngstem- Referring-now to Figs. 2 and 3, the outer end of "the'winding stem ZO carriesa crank disc: 26 provided' with' acrank pin 28. This carriesone end of a connecting rod 30, the other end. of 25 which ispivotally connected at 32 to alarge crown gear 34. Theframe is cutaway at136;to provide a'clearl passagefor pin 32; Theradius of movement of pin:32-about shaft 33 isgreater than the radius of crankspinlil about shaft 20; and pin 32: is therefore merely oscillated by rotavtion-of the'crank pin. In the present case. the

oscillationof the crown gear is approximately a half revolution- Inasmuch aszthe crown gear oscillates through 35 onlya half revolution, it need not have a. come pletecircumference of teeth. It may, in. the present-'case, for example, be a mutilated'gear somewhat more than semi-circular in area. However; the :complete gear is commonly. avail 0 able and inexpensive, and such a gear has therefore=been shown.

Crown gear 34" meshes-with another gear or pinion 38" which, in the present case, is mounted directly on shaft Hi. The step-up gear ratio between crown gear 34 and pinion 38 is so selected that the oscillation of the crown gear produces the desiredinumber of revolutions of shaft 16; In'thepresent case this is between one and one-halfv and ,one and two-thirds revolutions. If desired the rotation might be approximately two andione-half' revolutions, or any whole number of revolutions, plus approximately a half revolution. This isdone in order to turn the toy frompupright. positionv to upright position when it is rolled over, the one-half to two-thirds revolution being used up in swinging the reaction member or tail idly from one side to the other when the direction of rolling is to be reversed.

The crank disc 26 is preferably not secured directly on the main stem 20. As here constructed, it is freely rotatable on the main stem and is driven through a ratchet and cooperating pawl 52. Ratchet 40 is fixed on main stem 20. Pawl 42 is carried by disc 26, and in the present case is oscillatable on the crank pin 28. The pawl is normally moved into engagement with ratchet 453 by means of a wire spring 44. The teeth of the ratchet are so faced as to drive the crank disc when the spring motor is unwinding.

The use of a pawl and ratchet drive has two advantages. One obvious and important advantage is that the crank disc and tail may remain stationary during winding of the spring motor. A less obvious but desirable advantage is that the tail, when being reversed from one side of the toy to the other, can fall gravitationally toward the end of its movement, so that the flipping over of the tail is more natural than if it were to move always at uniform speed. When the tail falls gravitationally, the pawl 24-moves ahead of the ratchet tooth slightly, and after the tail reaches the floor, the ratchet tooth moves up to and again engages the pawl, whereupon the rolling operation begins. In the meantime there has been no interference with free forward movement of the toy, for the mere gravitational pressure of the tail on the floor is negligible.

In order to provide a simulated running movement of the toy, the toy is preferably provided with wheels 66 and 48. The wheel 46 is simply an idle wheel freely rotatable on a shaft 50 extending transversely of the toy body. There may be two concealed thin disc-like wheels spaced apart axially. If desired, a single exposed spherical or ball shaped wheel may be disposed between the paws of the kitten, so that the kitten appears to be playing with a ball.

The rear wheels 48 act as driving wheels and are fixedly mounted on a shaft 52 extending transversely of the motor frame. Shaft 52 is driven by a step-up gear train which is best shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Specifically the winding stem 20 carries a main gear 54. This meshes with a pinion 56 connected to a gear 58, which in turn meshes with a pinion 60 mounted on axle 52. If desired, the motor may be further provided with governor mechanism to limit the unwinding speed. In the present case the governor is merely an eccentric or unbalanced weight 62 carried on a high speed pinion 64, which in turn is driven by a gear 66 secured to a pinion 6B, which in turn meshes with a gear 10 carried on the wheel axle 52.

The driving wheels 43 should be effective only when the toy is to run forward, that is, when the toy is not rolling, and if desired, mechanism may be provided for intermittent rotation of the wheels. However, inasmuch as the wheels are ineffective to move the toy when the toy is rolled off the wheels, an intermittent driving mechanism is not essential, and in the present case the wheels are therefore driven continuously by a simple step-up gear train, as above described. When the motor is relieved of load at the driving wheels, it is subjected to the load of the tail l4 causing rolling over of the toy, hence there is no tendency for the motor to run free, and

in any case such a tendency would be restrained by the governor 62, previously referred to.

The operation of the toy may be described with reference to Figs. 4a, 4b and 4c of the drawing. When the toy has been wound and is set down on the floor it first runs forwardly, as is indicated by the line 12 shown in Fig. la. As the driving mechanism for tail M takes effect the tail is pressed against the floor. This takes place at the point M. Attempted rotation of the tail produces a reaction on the toy body which causes it to roll-over, as is indicated by the successive positions 1G, 18 and 80. At the position 80, when the toy is again right-side-up on its running wheels, the linkage for driving the tail I4 has reached dead center and there is a substantial dwell period, during which there is no further movement of the tail.

The tail does not have to roll the toy fully to the upright position 80, for when the toy approaches upright position the center of mass comes between the wheels and the toy tends of itself to come upright. It is better for the tail to finish its action a little ahead of the upright position, in order to make sure that it rests but lightly on the floor, during the forward run. If the shaft 16 were at fioor level it would need a half revolution to turn from one side to the other. Actually it is elevated, and needs, in the present case, about two-thirds of a revolution. The mechanical drive, however, may be, say, a half revolution, or somewhat more, but should not be as much as two-thirds of a revolution. This is in addition to the one or more whole revolutions used for rolling the toy over one or more times.

At position 80, when the toy is resting on its constantly rotating driving wheels, the toy again runs forward, as is indicated by the direction line 82, 84. After the toy has run a short distance the tail moving mechanism turns the tail from the left-hand side, as shown at position 86, to the right-hand side, as shown at position 86 in Fig. 419. During this time the toy, of course, continues to move forwardly. The last part of the movement of the tail from the leftside to the right-side can take place gravitationally, and the toy continues running ahead from position 86 to position 88. At this time the ratchet wheel 40 (Fig. 3) has again caught up with pawl 42, and the motor exerts a downward pressure on the tail which causes the toy to roll over toward the left, as in indicated by the successive positions 88, 90, 92 and 94.

At the point 94 the toy is again upright and runs forward, as is indicated by the direction line 96, 98. During this forward movement the linkage goes past dead center and flips the tail over from the right-hand position, shown at 94, to the left-hand position, shown at Hill in Fig. 4c. The last or downward part of the tail flipping action ordinarily takes place gravitationally, so that the pawl 42 runs ahead of the ratchet wheel 40. Meanwhile the toy continues running ahead to the position H12, at which time the ratchet wheel catches up to and again drives the pawl. The resulting downward movement of the tail causes the toy to again roll over toward the right, as is indicated by the successive positions I02, I04, I06, I08. At this time the toy is again erect and again runs forwardly, as is indicated by the line I [0.

In Fig. 4 the axis of the toy has been kept parallel throughout. This is approximately the result that will obtain if the toy body is sub- 30 shown in Fig. 3. A suitable fur-simulating coatconnections.

stantially uniform in peripheral dimension at.

both ends. In practice a slight change. in direction may occur, that is, line 82, 84 may differ in direction from the line '12 after the toy has. rolledover toward the right. But in such case the line Elli, 88 will differ in direction from the line 82, il i after the toy has rolled toward the left, andv theoretically the line 96, 98will again have the same direction as the line 12. The head end of the toy may be intentionally kept either small or large in dimension compared to the rear end of the toy, if it is desired to intentionally produce such changes in direction of movement.

The body of the toy may be constructedin accordance with conventional practice, and probably requires no detailed description. In the present case it comprises two oppositely concaved sides or edges which are secured together in edge to edge relation by appropriate tongue The sides are secured to a bottom plate .6 l2 (Fig. l) which is preferably flanged, as is indicated at H4, in order to receive the lower edges'of the bottom plate. The sides of thebody are connected to the bottom; plate by suitable tongue and slot connections, and similarly the frame of motor ltis secured to bottom plate H2 bymeans of tongue and slot connections.

The. reaction member or tail i4 is preferably. secured to shaft it by forming these two parts outof. a single piece of Wire, as is most clearly ingias; for example, a long-piled sleeve of fabric, is secured on the outside of wire M, as is indicated in Fig. 1.

It is believed that the construction and operation, as well as the advantages of our improved roll-over toy, will be apparent from the foregoing detailed description thereof. The toy is very realistic and entertaining in its action as it rolls over from side to side. toy simulates .a playful kitten, but'amusing results:are also obtained bymaking the toy body tosimulate a 'nondescript hound or dog which appearsto be running and rolling from side to side asif-plagued. by fleas. that;although the rolling. and running actionof the toy has been described at great length in .connection with Fig. 4, this is merely to analyze the action .in detail, and in practice the toy runs and rollsin a very rapid and lifelike manner.

Although the toy has been illustrated and demember outside said body and connected toa shaft which projects from the body, a' motor in said body for rotating said shaft to cause the reaction member to bear against the floor and thereby cause the body to rollover on the floor, and means between said motorand said shaft for periodically reversing the direction of rotation of the shaft so that the body rolls overone way and then the other. 1

2. A toy comprising a toy body, a reaction member outside said body and connected to a shaft which projects from one end ,ofthe body and extends longitudinally of the same, said me:

In the present case the.

It should be appreciated.

body is turned in each-direction from a.

floor, a motor in said body for rotating said shaft tocauseithe reaction member to bear against the floor'and. thereby cause the body to roll overon thefioonand means between said motor and said shaft for periodically reversing the direction of rotation of the shaft so that the body rolls over One way and then the other. v

3. A toy comprising atoy body, a reaction member outside saidbody and connected to a shaftwhich projects from the body, a motor in saidbodyfor rotating said shaft to cause the reaction member to bear against the floor, and thereby .cause the body to roll over on the floor, andmeans between said motor and said shaft for periodically reversing the direction of rotation of theshaft so that the body rolls over oneway and then the other, saidmeans. being such as to cause the reaction member to rotate one or more full revolutions plus approximately a half revolution in each direction, so that the body is turned in each direction from a right-side-up position to a right-side-up position.

4. A toy comprising a toy body, a reaction member outside said body andconnected to a shaft which projects from the body, a motor in said body for rotating said shaft to cause thereaction member to bear against the floor and thereby cause the body to roll overon the floor, and means between said motor and said shaft for periodically reversing the direction of rotation of the shaft so that the'body rolls over one way and then the other, said means comprising a. crank' driven by said motor, a large gear, a connecting rod leading from said crank to oscillate said large gear, and a smallgear driven by said large gear to rotate the shaft.

5. A toy comprising a toy body, a reaction member outside said body and connected to a shaft'whi-ch projects from one end of the body and extends longitudinally of the same, a motor in said body for rotating said shaft to cause the reaction member to bear against the floor and thereby cause the body to roll over on the floor, and means between said motor and said shaft for periodically reversing the direction of rota-- tion of the shaft so that the body rolls over one way and then the other, said means being such as to cause the reaction member to rotate one or more full revolutions plus approximately a half revolution in each direction so that th rightside-up position to a right-side up position, s 01 means comprising a crank driven by said motor, a large gear, a 'connectlng rod leading from said crank to oscillate said large gear, and a small gear driven by said large gear to rotate the shaft.

6. A toy comp-rising a toy body, whee's on said body, a reaction vmember outside said body and connected to a shaft which projects from the body, said reaction member being dimensioned to clear. the body but not the floor, a motor in said body for driving the aforesaid wheels and the aforesaid shaft, gearing between said motor and said Wheels for rotating the wheels. and means betweensaid motor and said shaft forintermittently driving said shaft in one direction and then the other. g

7. A toy comprising a toy body, wheels at the bottom of said body,- a reaction member outside said body and connected to a shaft w nil pro- 'jects from oneend of the-body and extends longitudinally of the same, said reaction member being dimensioned to clear the body but not the fioor, a; spring'lmotor in saidflbody for driving actionimember clearing said. body butnot the.

the aforesaid wheels and the aforesaid shaft, a step-up gear train between said motor and said wheels for continuously rotating the wheels, and means between said motor and said shaft for intermittently driving said shaft in one direction and then the other so that the body rolls over one way, runs ahead, then rolls over the other way, and runs ahead, and so on.

8. A toy comprising a toy body, wheels on said body, a reaction member outside said body and connected to a shaft which projects fror. the body, said reaction member being dimeLsioned to clear the body but not the floor, a motor in said body for driving the aforesaid wheels and the aforesaid shaft, gearing between said motor and said wheels for rotating the wheels, and means between said motor and said shaft for intermittently driving said shaft in one direction and then the other, said means being such as to cause the reaction member to rotate one or more full revolutions plus approximately a half revolution in each direction from a right-side-up position to a right-up-side position.

9. A toy comprising a toy body, wheels on said body, a reaction member outside said body and connected to a shaft which projects from the body, said reaction member being dimensioned to clear the body but not the floor, a motor in said body for driving the aforesaid wheels and the aforesaid shaft, a gearing between said motor and said wheels for rotating the whee s, and means between said motor and said shaft for intermittently driving said shaft in one direction and then the other, so that the body rolls over one way, runs ahead, and then rolls over the other way, runs ahead, and so on, said means comprising a crank driven by said motor, a large gear, a connecting rod leading from said crank to oscillate said large gear, and a small gear driven by said large gear to rotate the shaft.

10. A toy comprising a toy body, Wheels at the bottom of said body, a reaction member outside said body and connected to a shaft which projects from one end of the body and extends 1ongitudinally of the same, said reaction member being dimensioned to clear the body but not the fioor, a spring motor in said body for ch'iving the aforesaid wheels and the aforesaid shaft, a step-up gear train between said motor and said wheels for continuously rotating the wheels, and means between said motor and said shaft for intermittently driving said shaft in one direction and then the other so that the body rolls over one way, runs ahead, and then rolls over the other way, runs ahead, and so on, said means being such as to cause the reaction member to rotate one or more full revolutions plus approximately a half revolution in each direction from a right-side-up position to a right-side-up position, said means comprising a crank driven by said motor, a large gear, a connecting rod leading from said crank to oscillate said large gear, and a small gear driven by said large gear to rotate the shaft.

11. A toy simulating an animal body, a wire projecting from the rear end of the body and bent sidewardly, the inner end of the wire which projects into the rear end of the toy being rotatably mounted and acting as a shaft, the outer end of said wire simulating a tail and being so shaped that it rotationally clears the body but not the floor, a motor in the toy body, and gearing between said motor and said shaft for rotating the shaft intermittently in opposite directions, thereby causing the animal to simulatedly roll over on the floor in one direction and then the other.

12. A toy simulating an animal body, a wire projecting from the rear end of the body and bent sidewardly and then forwardly, the inner end of the wire which projects into the rear end of the toy being rotatably mounted and acting as a shaft, the outer end of said wire simulating a tail and being so shaped that it rotationally clears the body but not the floor, a motor in the toy body, and gearing between said motor and said shaft for rotating the shaft intermittently in opposite directions, thereby causing the animal to simulatedly roll over on the floor in one direction and then the other, said shaft being rotated one or more full revolutions plus approximately a half revolution, so that the body is turned from an upright position to an upright position during each rolling operation.

13. A toy simulating an animal body, a wire projecting from the rear end of the body and bent sidewardly and then forwardly, the inner end of the wire which projects into the rear end of the toy being rotatably mounted and acting as a shaft, the outer end of said wire simulating a tail and being so shaped that it rotationally clears the body but not the floor, a motor in the toy body, and gearing between said motor and said shaft for rotating the shaft intermittently in opposite directions, thereby causing the animal to simulatedly roll over on the floor in one direction and then the other, the gearing comprising a crank driven by the motor, a connecting rod, a large gear oscillated by said connecting rod, and a small gear driven by said large gear and connected to said shaft.

14. A toy simulating an animal body, a wire projecting from the rear end of the body and bent sidewardly, the inner end of the wire which projects into the rear end of the toy being rotatably mounted and acting as a shaft, the outer end of said wire simulating a tail and being so shaped that it rotationally clears the body but not the floor, a motor in the toy body, and gearing between said motor and said shaft for rotating the shaft intermittently in opposite directions, thereby causing the animal to simulatedly roll over on the floor in one direction and then the other, said shaft being rotated one or more full revolutions plus approximately a half revolution, so that the body is turned from an upright position to an upright position during each rolling operation, the gearing comprising a crank driven by the motor, a connecting rod, a large gear oscillated by said connecting rod, and a small gear driven by said large gear and connected to said shaft.

15. A toy simulating an animal body, wheels at the bottom of said body, a wire projecting from the rear end of the body and bent sidewardly, the inner end of the wire which projects into the rear end of the toy being rotatably mounted and acting as a shaft, the outer end of said wire simulating a tail and being so shaped that it rotationally clears the body but not the floor, a motor in the toy body, a train of gearing between said motor and said wheels for causing a simulated running movement of the animal, means between said motor and said shaft for rotating the shaft intermittently in opposite directions, thereby causing the animal to simulatedly roll over on the fioor in one direction, to then run forwardly on its wheels, to then roll over on the floor in opposite direction and again run forwardly on its wheels, and so on.

16. A toy simulating an animal body, wheels at the bottom of said body, awire projecting from the rear end of the body and bent sidewardly and forwardly, the inner end of the wire which projects into the rear end of the toy being rotatably mounted and acting as a shaft, the outer end of said Wire simulating a tail and being so shaped that it rotationally clears the body but not the floor, a motor in the toy body, a train of gearing between said motor and said wheels for causing a simulated running movement of the animal, means between said motor and said shaft for rotating the shaft intermittently in opposite directions, thereby causing the animal to simulatedly roll over on the floor in one direction, to

then run forwardly on its wheels, to then roll over on the floor in opposite direction and again run forwardly on its wheels, and so on, said shaft being rotated one. or more full revolutions plus approximately a half revolution, so that the body is turned from an upright position on its wheels to an upright position .on its wheels during each rolling operation.

17. A toy simulating an animal body, wheels at the bottom of said body, a wire projecting from the rear end of the body and bent sidewardly and forwardly, the inner end of the wire which projects into the rear end of the ,toy being rotatably mounted and acting as a shaft, the outer end of said wire simulating a tail and being so shaped that it rotationally clears the body but not the floor, a motor in the toy body, a train of gearing between said motor and said wheels for causing a simulated running movement of the animal, means between said motor and said shaft for rotating the shaft intermittently in opposite directions, thereby causing the animal to simulatedly roll over on the floor in one direction, to

then run forwardly on its wheels, to then roll over on the floor in opposite direction and again run forwardly on its wheels, and so on, the means between said motor and shaft comprising a crank driven by the motor, a connecting rod, a large gear oscillated by said-connecting rod, and a small gear driven by said large gear and connected to said shaft.

18. A toy simulating an animal body, wheels at the bottom of said body, a wire projecting from the rear end of the body and bent sidewardly, the inner end of the wire which projects into "the rear end of the toy being rotatably mounted and acting as a shaft, the outer end of said wire simulating a tail and being so shaped that it rotationally clears the body but not the floor, a motor in the toy body, a train of gearing between said motor and said wheels for causing a simulated running movement of the animal, means between said motor and said shaft for rotating the shaft intermittently in opposite directions, thereby causing the animal to simulatedly roll over on the floor in one direction, to then run forwardly on its wheels, to then roll over on the floor in opposite direction and again run forwardly on' its wheels, and so on, said shaft being rotated one or more full revolutions plus approximately a half revolution, so that the body is turned from an upright position on its Wheels to an upright position on its wheels during each rolling operation, the means between said motor and shaft comprising a crank driven by the motor, a connecting rod, a large gear oscillated by said connecting rod, and a small gear driven by said large gear and connected to said shaft.

RAYMOND J. LOI-IR. RICHARD NELSON CARVER. 

